Yachting: All sailors devastated by loss, says NZ skipper

The New Zealand skipper of the leading yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race said the yachting world would miss Dutch yachtie Hans Horrevoets, who died after being swept overboard last night.

New Zealander Mike Sanderson, skipper of ABN Ambro One which has led the race virtually since it began, said Horrevoets, 32, was dedicated to the sport and dedicated to the race.

He was washed overboard from Sanderson's sister yacht, ABN Ambro Two overnight, and could not be resuscitated when he was brought back on board.

The yacht was about 1300 nautical miles from Lands' End in the south of England.

Sanderson said the two-boat ABN Ambro team was devastated by the tragedy.

He said it was clear how much Horrevoets loved his sport.

"You could see, when he got into the dock, the huge grin he would have from ear to ear.

"He was a fantastic team player who worked really hard to get the best for the whole team.

"I can't say enough good things about him. He will be sadly missed, not only in our team, but in the world," Sanderson said in an email from ABN Ambro One.

Horrevoets had earlier said sailing around the world was his dream and an ambition he had held since he was a child.

"As a child, I just had one goal in my life; sailing regattas! My biggest dream was sailing the Whitbread (now the Volvo) Round the World Race. Racing around the world on a W60 was my largest passion," he said on his website.

Sanderson said soon after hearing the news of the tragedy it had been a "terrible, terrible 12 hours."

"Hearing the news that Hans had gone over the side and that one of our sailing team was in the water just gave you a very sickening feeling, it is a sailor's worst nightmare.

"Over the past two years we have grown as a very big family at Team ABN Ambro, and those of you that knew Hans will agree he was just the most lovely team player and family man."

He said the crew on ABN Ambro One, which led the race, had "backed off another level, we have gone with a fractional gennaker and a reef and we will just monitor the pace, for sure we need to be very careful on board as emotions are very close to the surface.

"I feel the pressure more than ever to get the husbands, the dads, and the fiances and boyfriends in to their families in one piece.

"We have to keep racing though, as otherwise all that Hans has worked for over the last couple of years will be wasted, and we know that he wouldn't want that," Sanderson said.

- NZPA